Ryan FowlerThe latest Hiring Trends report from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), produced with Bullhorn, shows contrasting conditions across the professional staffing market as firms continue to navigate economic uncertainty.
The data indicates a softening in permanent hiring in November, likely influenced by unease around the Chancellor’s Budget announcements.
New permanent jobs fell by 8% between October and November and are down 5% compared with the same month last year.
Permanent placements were also 10% lower month-on-month, although they remain broadly stable year-on-year, suggesting that confidence in long-term hiring has not materially weakened.
In contrast, the contract market continues to demonstrate resilience. While new contract jobs declined by 10% between October and November, they rose 14% year-on-year, and contract placements were up 27% compared with November 2024.
APSCo said this pattern reflects strong demand for flexible staffing solutions as organisations seek agility in an uncertain economic environment.
Samantha Hurley, managing director at APSCo UK, said: “The latest data highlights the resilience of the contract market, which continues to deliver strong year-on-year growth despite short-term fluctuations.
This reflects the flexibility businesses need to manage uncertainty while maintaining access to critical skills.
“Permanent hiring remains steady, and while month-on-month figures show a slight dip, stability compared to last year suggests confidence is holding firm.
“Professional staffing firms are clearly playing a vital role in helping organisations adapt, whether through agile contract solutions or longer-term permanent placements.”
Andy Ingham, SVP sales, EMEA and APAC at Bullhorn, said: “November saw month-over-month softening in both permanent and contract jobs, but underneath that dip, the fundamentals remain strong.
Contract hiring continues to outperform, with solid year-over-year gains in both jobs and placements despite last November being one of the slowest on record.
“Permanent hiring is tracking on its steady, modest path, and while overall placements eased, improved conversion rates tell us that when clients are hiring, they’re committed.
“Taken together, November reflects a market that’s stable and quietly moving in the right direction.”
